Legato percussion apparatus for electrical musical instruments



J. M. HANERT Dec. 14, 1965 LEGATO PERCUSSION APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALMUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Sept. 50. 1960 IN V EN TOR.'

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United States Patent Office 3,223,770 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 3,223,770LEGATO PERCUSSION APPARATUS FOR ELEC- TRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS John M.Hanert, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Hammond Organ Company, Chicago,Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 59,640 4Claims. (Cl. 84--1.26)

The invention relates generally to electrical musical instruments andmore particularly to means whereby tones in the accompaniment registerof the instrument may be sounded percussively at will, by the operationof the keys in the treble register and vice versa, or in which operatedkeys in either section will cause percussion tones to be sounded in bothsections.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved percussioncontrol apparatus and circuitry whereby percussion tones may be producedby tone signal generators in the treble or accompaniment sections uponplaying keys legatowise in either or both sections.

A further object is to provide an electrical musical instrument in whichthe playing of the left hand rhythm or accompaniment portion of aselection is rendered more easily discernible and thus produces highlydesirable musical effects.

Other objects will appear from the following description, referencebeing had to the accomp-anying drawings in which:

The single figure of the drawing is a schematic and block diagram ofrepresentative portions of the complete instrument.

Referring to the drawing, the instrument comprises a plurality ofoscillators which are preferably of the construction shown in my priorPatent No. 2,645,968, there being such an oscillator for each semitone(or two or three adjacent semitones) throughout 4the gamut of theinstrument. As in the aforesaid patent, the oscillators are renderedoperativeby depression of keys 12 which through switches 14 yoperatedthereby, supply B-lor plate current to the oscillators respectively. Theswitches 14 of the accompaniment section have a common bus bar contact16 while those of the treble section have a similar common bus barcontact 17. Each of the oscillators includes a parallel resonant circuit18 the upper (grid) terminal 20 thereof being connected to tone controlswitches 22 and 23 to supply flute type signals to either a sustainedtone collector conductor 26 by closure of switch 22, or signals to apercussion collector conductor 28 upon closure of switch 23. Similarly,switches 30 and 31 may be closed selectively to supply string typesignals from the other (cathode) terminal 21 of the resonant circuit 18through a resistor R34 to the sustained tone collector conductor 26, orto the percussion tone collector conductor 28, or to both collectorconductors.

Reed type tones may be supplied to the conductors 26 and 28 by operatingthe sustained tone switch 32 or the percussion tone switch 33, both ofthese switches being connected to the terminal 21 through a suitableseries resistor R34 and capacitors C46 and C47. Similar tone controlswitches for the treble section or register bear corresponding referencecharacters followed by a. Plate current is supplied from a suitable B+terminal of the power supply to the bus bars 16 and 17 through resistorsR48 and R49 respectively.

The bus bars 16 and 17 are adapted to be operatively connected with apercussion control circuitry 50 by closing manually operated switches 52and 53. Each time one of the switches 14 is closed a transient negativepulse is generated in a conductor 54 which, through a capacitor C56, isconnected to the control grid of an amplifying triode 57. The controlgrid of the triode 57 is connected to a B-lterminal by a high valueresistor R58. The

plate of the triode 57 is also connected to the B+ terminal through aload resistor R60 and the amplified pulse signal is impressed upon thegrid of a rectifying triode 62 through a capacitor C64. The'grid oftriode 62 is connected to ground by a resistor R66 while the cathodes ofboth triodes are connected to ground through a resistor R68. Platecurrent is supplied to the plate of the triode 62 through the winding 70of a relay 72, the switch 74 thereof being adapted to operate thepercussion control means. The plate of triode 62 is connected to thegrid of triode 57 through a positive feed-back capacitor C76 in serieswith a resistor R78. This portion of the circuit constitutes a one-shotmultivibrator with positive grid return. This percussion control isessentially of the type disclosed and claimed in my copendingapplication Serial No. 720,887, filed March 12, 1958.

The oscillators for the treble section of the instrument have theiroutputs similarly connected to a sustained tone collector conductor 80,while the percussion tone signals are supplied to a percussion tonesignal collector 82. All of the oscillators are adapted to have avibrato signal applied to their control grids, optionally receiving thesignals from a vibrato apparatus and control device 84.

The percussive signals from the collector conductors 82 and 28 areimpressed across the primary winding 86 of a transformer 88. Thesecondary Winding of the transformer has its end terminals connected tothe control grids of triodes and 91. The triodes 90 and 91 are biased tonegative cut-off by the potential on the arm of potentiometer 92, butupon energization of relay and consequent brief closure of switch 74 toground potential the bias is reduced to an operating level bydischarging capacitor C97 to a value determined by the ratio of R92 andR94. The rate of discharge of the capacitor C97 through the gridresistor R94 determines the attack rate of the percussive signal, andthe rate of charge of the capacitor C97 through the potentiometer R92determines the percussive decay time of the signal. The plates oftriodes 90, 91 are connected to the terminals of a primary winding of atransformer 98, the center tap 99,of this primary being connected to asource of B-fpotential.

The secondary winding of the transformer 98 is connected across avoltage divider 100 and the sliding contact of the latter is connectedby resistance R102 to one end of a coupling resistor R104 and also to aninput terminal 106 of a preamplifier and volume control apparatus 108.The other terminal of the resistance R104 is connected to ground. Thecollector conductor 26 is connected through resistors R and R112 to theinput terminal 106, and the conductor 80 is connected through resistorsR114 and R112 to said terminal 106. Resistors R110 and R114 arepreferably adjustable. The preamplifier 108 is coupled to a poweramplifier 116 which supplies a speaker 118.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the instrument may beplayed in a number of different ways to produce `interesting and novelmusical effects. When switch 52 is closed and switch 53 is open, thenwhenever one of the switches 14 of the accompanient register is closedto connect the bus 16 to the plate of its associated oscillator triodeIa negative pulse is produced on this bus bar. T-his pulse istransmitted through capacitor C56 to the input of the one-shotmultivibrator comprising the triodes S7 and 62, and associatedcircuitry, with the result that relay 72 is momentarily energized tocause rapid attack of the tone signals transmitted through thetransformer 88 and following circuitry. Thus any tone signals from thegenerators which have associated keys depressed will be sounded with apercussive tone intensity envelope of tone quality depending upon thesetting of the switches 23, 31, and 33 of the accompaniment section andthe setting of the corresponding switches for the treble section. At thesame time sustained tone signals may be produced from the oscillators ofeither or both sections depending upon the setting of the tone controlswitches. For instance, if a number of keys corresponding to a chord inthe treble section are held depressed, the depression of a key in theaccompaniment section will cause the chord to be sounded with apercussive envelope providing such result is desired and the proper tonecontrol switches 23a, 31a and/ or 33a are closed.

If only switch 53 is closed the opposite result will be obtained,namely, that the key or keys which :are held depressed in theaccompaniment section will cause the sounding of percussive tones upondepression of a key in the treble section. Or, if both switches 52 and53 are closed, depression of any key will result in the sounding oftones controlled by all depressed keys with a percussion envelope,provided of course that the control switches-such as 22, 23, etc.-areproperly set.

When both switches 52 and 53 are open, music produced will be sustainedand the musician may play the instrument in the customary manner that anorgan is played. Because of the separate tone controls for the twosections of the instrument, musical effects may be obtained similiar tothose of a two manual organ.

The musician thus has at his command a novel means for emphasizing atwill either the tones in the accompaniment or in the treble section ofthe instrument, and by varying the tone quality by means of theswitches, such as 22, etc., may have the tone quality of both thepercussive and sustained tones in either register sound with aflute-like quality, string quality, or reed quality, together with anydesired combination of these qualities. The instrument is thus veryversatile in its capability of distinctive performance.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of myinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerousmodifications and variations may be made in the form and constructionthereof, without departing from the more fundamental principles of theinvention. I therefore desire, by the following claims, to includewithin the scope of my invention all such similar and modilied forms ofthe apparatus disclosed, by which substantially the results of theinvention may be obtained by substantially the same or equivalent means.

I claim:

1. In an electrical musical instrument having an output system, a manualcomprising a plurality of playing keys extending throughout theaccompaniment and treble ranges, a plurality of sources of electricalmusical tone signals of corresponding pitch ranges, a plurality ofswitches respectively operated by the keys to render the associatedsources eiective to transmit tone signals to the output system, one ofthe poles of each of the switches operated by keys in the accompanimentsection being connected to a common conductor, one of the poles of eachof the switches associated with the keys in the treble register beingconnected to a second common conductor, a one shot multivibrator, meansoptionally operable to connect the input of said multivibrator to eitheror both of said common conductors, means responsive to a pulse producedupon closure of one of the key operated switches to trigger saidmultivibrator, a percussive tone intensity envelope control means, meansoperated upon triggering of said multivibrator to trigger the operationof said percussive tone intensity envelope control means, tone controlmeans for seelctively transmitting tone signals from said sources to theoutput system, :and additional tone control means selectively operableto transmit signals from the sources through said percussive Vintensityenvelope control means to the output system.

2. In an electrical musical instrument having an output system, a manualcomprising a plunality of playing keys extending throughout theaccompaniment and treble ranges, a plurality of sources of electricalmusical tone signals of corresponding pitch ranges, a plurality ofswitches respectively operated by the keys to Arender the associatedsources eiective to transmit tone signals to the output sytsem, one ofthe poles of each of the switches operated by keys in the accompanimentsection being connected to a common conductor, one of the poles of eachof the switches associated with the keys in the treble register beingconnected to a second common conductor, a one shot multivibrator withpositive grid return, means optionally operable to connect the input ofsaid multivibrator to either or both of said common conductors, meansresponsive to la pulse produced upon closure of one of the key operatedswitches to trigger said multivibrator, a percussive tone intensityenvelope control means, means operated upon triggering of saidmultivibrator to trigger the operation of said percussive tone intensityenvelope control means, an amplier and volume control means forming partof the said output system, tone control means for selectivelytransmitting tone signals from said sources to the amplier, additionaltone control means selectively operable to transmit signals from thesources through said percussive intensity envelope control means to saidamplifier, and electroacoustic translating means coupled to the outputof the amplifier.

3. In an electrical music instrument having an output system includingan amplifier and speaker coupled thereto, a manual comprising aplurality of playing keys eX- tending throughout the accompaniment andtreble ranges, a plurality of generators of electrical musical tonesignals of corresponding pitch ranges, a plurality of switchesrespectively operated by the keys to render the associated generatorseffective to transmit tone signals to the output system, one of thepoles of each of the switches operated by keys in the accompanimentsection being connected to a common conductor, one of the poles of eachof the switches associated with the keys in the treble register beingconnected to a second common conductor, a one shot multivibrator,circuit means including switches optionally operable to connect theinput of said multivibrator to either or both of said common conductorsproducing a multivibrator triggering pulse upon its initial completionby actuation of a key associated with a connected common conductor, apercussive tone intensity envelope control means operated by each pulse,tone control means for selectively transmitting tone signals from saidgenerators to the amplifier, and additional tone control meansselectively operable to transmit signals from the generators throughsaid percussive intensity envelope control means to said amplifier.

4. In an electrical musical instrument, an output system, means forgenerating tone signals of different frequencies for transmission tosaid output system, a group of treble keys and a separate group ofaccompaniment keys for selecting respective tone signals to betransmitted to the output system, means for providing a percussive toneenvelope for any generated tone, and means individually connected withone of said groups of keys and operable only in response to theoperation of the keys in said one group for rendering said percussivemeans effective to provide a percussive tone envelope for tones selectedby already operated keys in the other of said groups.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,783,672 3/1957Hanert 84-126 2,905,040 9/1959 Hanert 84-l.24 2,916,957 12/1959 Hanert84--126 2,916,958 12/1959 Hanert 84--1.26 2,937,556 5/1960 Hanert84-l.26 2,953,056 9/1960 Hanert u 84-1.26 3,038,365 6/1962 Peterson84-126 GEORGE N. WESTBY, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE V. EFNER, ARTHUR GAUSS,

Examiners.

1. IN AN ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING AN OUTPUT SYSTEM, A MANUALCOMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PLAYING KEYS EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THEACCOMPANIMENT AND TREBLE RANGES, A PLURALITY OF SOURCES OF ELECTRICALMUSICAL TONE SIGNALS OF CORRESPONDING PITCH RANGES, A PLURALITY OFSWITCHES RESPECTIVELY OPERATED BY THE KEYS TO RENDER THE ASSOCIATEDSOURCES EFFECTIVE TO TRANSMIT TONE SIGNALS TO THE OUTPUT SYSTEM, ONE OFTHE POLES OF EACH OF THE SWITCHES OPERATED BY KEYS IN THE ACCOMPANIMENTSECTION BEING CONNECTED TO A COMMON CONDUCTOR, ONE OF THE POLES OF EACHOF THE SWITCHES ASSOCIASTED WITH THE KEYS IN THE TREBLE REGISTER BEINGCONNECTED TO A SECOND COMMON CONDUCTOR, A ONE SHOT MULTIVIBRATOR, MEANSOPTIONALLY OPERABLE TO CONNECT THE INPUT OF SAID MULTIVIBRATOR TO EITHEROR BOTH OF SAID COMMON CONDUCTORS, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO AS PULSE PRODUCEDUPON CLOSURE OF ONE OF THE KEY OPERATED SWITCHES TO TRIGGER SAIDMULTIVIBRATOR, A PERCUSSIVE TONE INTENSITY ENVELOPE CONTROL MEANS, MEANSOPERATED UPON TRIGGERINGN OF SAID MULTIVIBRATOR TO TRIGGER THE OPERATIONOF SAID PERCUSSIVE TONE INTENSITY ENVELOPE CONTROL MEANS, TONE CONTROLMEANS FOR SELECTIVELY TRANSMITTING TONE SIGNALS FROM SAID SOURCES TO THEOUTPUT SYSTEM, AND ADDITIONAL TONE CONTROL MEANS SELECTIVELY OPERABLE TOTRANSMIT SIGNALS FROM THE SOURCES THROUGH SAID PERCUSSIVE INTENSITYENVELOPE CONTROL MEANS TO THE OUTPUT SYSTEM.